(VICTORIA, Texas) - Eddy V. Pleasant, 52, of Sheridan, Texas, a former firearms dealer, has been ordered to surrender to a federal correctional institute to begin serving a prison sentence for making false statements during the purchase of firearms, acting United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today. United States District Judge John D. Rainey entered the order on March 31, 2009. Pleasant has been ordered to report to Federal Correctional Institute - El Reno - by April 21, 2009.

Pasant was sentenced on Feb. 17 to 18 months in federal prison to be followed by a three year term of supervised release, and fined $2,000. Pleasant was allowed to remain out on bond until ordered to surrender to a designated institution.

Pleasant, charged Oct. 16, 2008 with numerous federal firearms violations, including falsifying Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Forms 4473, pleaded guilty on Nov. 21, 2008, to making a false statement in December 2005 during the sale of a firearm. Pleasant was accused of recording fictitious Texas concealed handgun licenses, which were used as alternatives to the FBI National Instant Criminal Background System (NICS), by making false entries on the forms in regard to NICS checks and willfully failing to conduct required NICS checks of his customers prior to transferring firearms to them. He was also charged with knowingly selling firearms from his business to two illegal aliens, who are prohibited by law to receive or possess a firearm. Additionally, Pleasant was charged with willfully recording false information into his records regarding the receipt and transfer of firearms to other federally-licensed firearms dealers, allowing him to traffic at least 176 firearms in a one-year-period without any record of where or to whom the firearms were transferred.

As a convicted felon, Pleasant is prohibited from even possessing a firearm.

ATF agents investigated the case with the assistance of industry operations investigators. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carol Wheeler.